Cigar Art From Nuzli Hakiim

If you’re one of Nuzli Hakiim’s almost 34,000 Instagram followers, you’ll know of his eye-catching, cigarthemed artwork.
The Singaporean graphic designer began enjoying cigars four years ago, and his designs are now used by clients, including Jas Sum Kral, and online retailer Cigars Direct. “I told myself I want to be well known on Instagram for creating images with cigars nobody else has created,” Hakiim says. “I was the first one to pair coffee splashes with a cigar.”

Photo: Nuzli Hakiim

His artworks involving coffee splashes looked so real that he received some backlash from followers who thought he was destroying good cigars. He can assure his audience that no cigars are harmed in the production of his designs.Hakiim’s first foray into paid cigar design work was with Riste Ristevski from Jas Sum Kral.

“I saw Riste post a prerelease cigar without a cigar band on it and asked him if he needed a cigar label design. Since then, I’ve started to get more work designing cigar labels.”An engaged social media fan base that appreciates his work led Hakiim to recently start selling some of his art online at www.CigarArtPrint.com.The designer’s next project is cigar accessories under the name Dark Regal.

“I am heavily influenced by Alexander McQueen. I’m currently designing four cigar stands, and from there I want to release some interesting cigar cutters, lighters, and ashtrays.”

If you are keen on Hakiim designing a piece of art for you, you may be waiting awhile. He would love to do private commissions, but says he’s “just a bit too busy at the moment.”

This article was published in the Cigar Journal Spring Edition 2018. Read more

Samuel Spurr has been Cigar Journal’s Asia-Pacific contributor since his first feature on the Australian cigar scene in 2006. Regularly writing, Tweeting, and Instagramming about cigars, he’s recognized in Australia as a cigar authority and frequently hosts cigar master classes.